Rzeszów among the leaders of “Learning Cities”
At the end of May, Robert Schuman Foundation published for the first time the Ranking of Learning Cities. Ranking was prepared by the analysts from the Polityka Insight Analytical Center as well as the Robert Schuman Foundation in cooperation with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Poland. Partners of publication were PKN Orlen and Siemens. 66 Polish cities with a county rights have been extensively analyzed. The City of Rzeszów was ranked at very high 2nd place. Out of 100 possible points the capital of Podkarpacie gained 53.3 points, ahead of cities such as Poznań, Kraków, Katowice, Wrocław, Łódź and Gdańsk. The winner of the ranking was Warsaw with 54,9 points.
Quoting a fragment of the ranking – “Rzeszów is the only city in Poland, which tied its future with technologies and consistently implementing this strategy. The city is the European center of ‘United Technologies Corporation’ – a world leader in the aerospace industry as well as a major center of ‘Aviation Valley Association’. Rzeszów is also the seat of ‘Zelmer Company’, the largest Polish manufacturer of household appliances. The city is the only place in the world outside US Middletown, where engines for the F-16 are manufactured. In the city there are pharmaceutical manufacturers ‘Sanofi-Aventis’ and ‘Chema-Elektromet’. There is also ‘Alima Gerber’ – manufacturer of food for infants and children. Rzeszów has also become the headquarters of the country’s largest IT company ‘Asseco Poland’. The city officially has 185,000 inhabitants and is still growing. In fact, Rzeszów is home for more then 22, 000 inhabitants”.
Rzeszów achieved remarkable results in the category of “Most educated professionals in the country”. The city received 92.5 points out of 100 possible, ahead of all examined cities. The authors of the ranking emphasize that Rzeszów is a leader in overall number of students per 1 thousand inhabitants (275 – by far the largest in Poland). As many as 33.5% of the workforce in the city have higher education. The didactic program of Rzeszów University of Technology was also appreciated (authors of ranking define that program as a “one of the most interesting in the country”). It was noted that the university participates in the Fusion for Energy competition and has a great chance to install the reactor, which will produce an energy as a result of thermonuclear fusion on an industrial scale. Rzeszów has also been recognized as a leader in the category “Best cooperation between companies in Poland”. The city reached a total of 72,4 points. In the capital of Podkarpackie Province as many as 75 companies per 1 thousand inhabitants requested funding from the “Innovative Economy” Operational Programme. What is important, in Rzeszów commits three times less economic crimes per thousand companies than average (21 per thousand companies).
Interestingly, authors of ranking predict, that Rzeszów has a good chance to overtake in a short period of time the leader of this year’s ranking – Warsaw. The rapid growth of the city population was also highlighted. – “Whilst maintaining the current trend of population growth, in 2020 in the city can work over 300 thousand people. By migrating in Rzeszów is the high proportion of working-age population – 68%. Young people (up to 15 years old) account for 14% and pensioners – 18% of the population“.
The Robert Schuman Foundation is NGO and bipartisan, whose mission is to motivate Europeans to civic participation and the promotion of European integration and values upon which it is based. As a part of its statutory Foundation carries out educational and activating programs, focusing on three main issues: promoting the idea of European integration and European education, social activation of citizens and promoting democratic values and civil rights, as well as sharing Polish experiences from the process of European integration and socialeconomical-political transformation. In 2013, more than 20,000 people from 20 EU countries as well as non-EU countries participated in various Robert Schuman Foundation programs. The Foundation directs its programs to all social groups, regardless of age, education, profession or place of residence.
The results of the latest Ranking of Cities Attractive for Business, developed by Forbes business magazine in collaboration with the Centre for Economic Information are great success of the city. Rzeszów was ranked on the 1st position in the category of cities with population of 150-300 thousand residents. The main indicator, which was taken into account was the increase of new companies per 1 thousand residents. Rzeszów overtook such cities as Gdynia, Gliwice, Toruń, Częstochowa, Kielce, Białystok or Radom.
– This is a success of citizens, entrepreneurs and companies. We, as an officials are only trying to create appropriate conditions for development. The key is an education in schools and the development of an academic centers. Educated professionals will have a huge impact on the creation of new workplaces. Particularly, using a modern technologies. According to various rankings, Rzeszów is seen as a city friendly for residents, as the city where young people can count on a good start in life. This should also encourage investors – said Tadeusz Ferenc, Mayor of the City of Rzeszów.
Investor Relations Department City of Rzeszow
